Economist: Holland area a shining example for state, nation to follow

Tuesday

Jan 14, 2014 at 3:35 PMJan 14, 2014 at 3:36 PM

By Brian.VanOchten@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4279

A sellout crowd of local business leaders listened to economist George A. Erickcek explain Tuesday at the first West Coast Chamber of Commerce Early Bird Breakfast of the New Year that significant progress should continue to happen throughout Michigan in the next two years.And, for a shining example, look no further than Ottawa County, he insisted.“We expect to see growth continue in Ottawa County in 2014 and 2015,” said Erickcek, senior regional analyst at the WE Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo. “You can see growth has been up. Overall, the business community is more upbeat here.”The reasons are simple: More and more jobs in manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare and leisure sectors are being created in the Holland area, helping the unemployment rate in Ottawa County stay below both state and national averages in the post-recession economy.Local leaders echoed the findings of Erickcek’s annual report about the Holland business climate.Erickcek presented data showing Ottawa County’s economy expanded at a rate of 2.2 percent last year. The rate of growth at the state and national levels both lagged behind the Holland area.He predicts the Holland-area growth rate to be 2.4 to 2.6 percent this year.“Ottawa County still continues to lead the state and the nation, so we’re really encouraged by that,” West Coast Chamber President Jane Clark said. “We still see the impact of advanced manufacturing and the importance of the multiplier effect to growth in other industries in the community.“I think the sold-out crowd (of 325 at Haworth Inn and Conference Center) shows our members are interested in hearing George’s forecast to use this data to help develop their own business plans for 2014,” she said of West Coast Chamber membership, which is 1,275 strong.Erickcek estimated nearly 60,000 jobs were created in Michigan during 2013, up 1.4 percent from the previous year. It included 17,570 manufacturing jobs, where Ottawa County remains strong.He also referred to a University of Michigan study forecasting the creation of 66,730 additional jobs throughout the state in 2014, followed by the creation of 65,050 more in 2015.“We are outperforming the nation,” Erickcek told the audience.Lakeshore Advantage President Randy Thelen pointed to diverse manufacturing operations such as Perrigo Company, Gentex Corp., Magna Mirrors of America, Inc., Charter House Innovations, EBW Electronics, JR Automation Technologies, The Stow Company and others for propelling Ottawa County ahead of the rest of Michigan and the nation.“That outpaces the state forecast and that outpaces the nation,” Thelen said of the economic forecast. “That’s where we want to be. We just have to think in relative terms.“We’re seeing things happen here that are really the envy of most parts of the country.”Erickcek said the business climate is ripe for Michigan -- especially Ottawa County -- to experience sustained growth while interest rates are at historic lows and inflation is held in check.“We do expect 2014 to be a great year and for more growth in 2015,” he said.— Follow this reporter on Twitter @BizHolland